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Upper Norwood, South East London, 'the fresh air suburb', developed rapidly after the re-opening of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham in 1854. The recorded date of the first church, later to become the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist was 1871; the building of the permanent church was completed by 1887.
Alfred James Eyre, organist at St. John's from 1881 until his death in 1919, founded a tradition of fine music that became famed far outside the parish and is maintained to this day. He was responsible for the inception and near completion of the present organ. Eyre also held the position of organist at the Crystal Palace from 1880 - 1894.
The history of the installation of the organ is one of protracted negotiation and tireless fundraising. The organ was designed and begun in 1882 by T. C. Lewis in co-operation with A. J. Eyre. The specification was innovative as indicated by this contemporary report:
'On the 8th of February several members of the Organ Committee paid a Visit to the factory of Messrs. T. C. Lewis & Co., for the purpose of hearing and inspecting the 'choir' organ. Both the tone and mechanism proved to be of the finest quality. The connection between the keys and the pipes of the organ (which in the church will be some eighty feet apart) is by means of a most ingenious and indeed unique application of electricity, the wires conveying the electric current passing from the keyboard in the South Chapel, under the Chancel, and so up to the Organ Chamber over the Vestry. Notwithstanding this separation and the length of wire traversed, the sound of each pipe answers with perfect precision to the touch of the player's fingers on the keys. This was fully tested by Mr Eyre, and all present being thoroughly satisfied, the Committee have ordered the erection of this portion of the Organ at once, and it is hoped that the congregation will have the pleasure of hearing this instalment of their beautiful instrument for the first time at the evening service on Easter Eve. Mr James Humphreys having most generously offered £250 towards the cost of the 'Great' Organ, which will amount to £400, this has also been ordered, and is expected to be completed in about three months.'
The pioneering electro-pneumatic action was powered by batteries. The console was placed in the south choir aisle and this alone created considerable interest at the time. Trouble was experienced with the action through an inadequate supply of low voltage current and with water penetrating the cables in the tunnel beneath the chancel. The cables were re-located over the chancel screen but soon after the screen had to be dismantled and rebuilt owing to subsidence of the foundations on London's clay. The organ was hand pumped by two 'blowers' until 1907 when an electric 'Discus' blower was installed. By 1912 the organ had become almost unplayable and the electric action was replaced by Lewis with tubular pneumatic. A new console was placed on the north side of the choir.
Following Eyre's death in 1919, the music was under the direction of the priest / organist, Dr. George Sydenham Holmes. During the next 8 years a great deal of work was undertaken by Henry Willis, who by now had taken over Lewis's Organ Works. During the course of Harrison & Harrison's recent survey of the organ it became apparent to what extent Willis had intervened. Some of the flue work had been re-regulated with a reduction in the brightness and vigour of the sound, one of the main characteristics of Lewis's voicing. Harrison & Harrison made the point that 'the Lewis pipework still forms the backbone of the organ'; the work done by Henry Willis between 1920 and 1927 'was significant, but involved changes of emphasis rather than of fundamental approach'. The changes carried out to the reeds by Willis are still obvious, the fitting of shades smoothing out their tone.
Following war damage, N. P. Mander overhauled the organ in 1947. By 1995 the organ had become almost unplayable due to worn out leather, and electrical and mechanical failure. The PCC at once set restoration of the instrument as a high priority and proposals for rebuilding and refurbishing the organ were developed, after extensive research into the history of the instrument. Advice was sought from Dr. Harry Bramma, former Director of the Royal School of Church Music and Master of the Music at Southwark Cathedral, and Dr. William McVicker, the Southwark Diocesan Organ Advisor. Dr. Bramma, a recognised expert on Lewis organs, was appointed advisor by the PCC on the recommendation of Dr. McVicker.
The curent work on the instrument will reflect the tonal qualities of the organ in 1927 but will incorporate suggestions raised by Harrison & Harrison to restore some of the original fire and brilliance. The intention is to restore the tone of the reeds by removing the shades. The Willis Tuba stop will be kept. The Swell Double Trumpet is being re-voiced to make it more in keeping with the Lewis Swell reeds. On Dr. Bramma's advice the Willis Trombone stop is to be replaced with a Posaune made to Lewis's specification. The Choir Organ Salicet 4' (originally named Viole d'Amour 4') is, at present. incomplete as a result of its conversion to a Nasard. This will be replaced with a new Salicet. It is not proposed to change the pitch even though it is sharp - C = 535 at 60°F.
Apart from its tonal quality the organ is historically important because it was the first instrument to use Lewis's electro-pneumatic action. (BIOSJ 22, p.6-27). Willis electrified the key and pedal actions between the console and the organ chamber in 1927. The plan is to retain this remote electro-pneumatic action. Both the individual actions and the electro-pneumatic primaries from each department, Great, Swell and Choir will be fitted with new magnets and releathered. The existing lead tubing will be retained.
The present console made by Lewis in 1912 is being retained by which is meant the existing keyboards, pedalboard and drawstops. The conversion of the console to all electric operation will necessitate the fitting of electric primaries to the drawstop slider machines. The original pneumatic machine that operated the Pedal Organ will be replaced with new electro-pneumatic primary machines adjacent to each pedal chest. This will allow the three chests to operate in the same way as the manual actions. New electrical contacts are being fitted to the keys, pedals and drawstops and the pistons will have an eight channel solid-state memory system. The present four pistons to each manual will be increased to six together with eight General pistons using the existing composition pedals. The result of this work at the console will be to install a modern version of Lewis's original concept which was based upon a then untried electro-pneumatic system. This respects history but also makes conservative use of the best modern equipment. The console is to be placed in its original position on the south side of the choir. The move back to the south side is not only historically correct but will enable the organist to hear the instrument better and have the added advantage of unrestricted view of the Nave Altar.
From Lewis's own book Lewis's Organ Building (8th edition), in which he expounds the virtues of his new electro-pneumatic action as used in St. John's, it might seem logical that an electro-pneumatic swell shutter action should have been installed:'the swell pedal he (the player) can alter and adjust yet far away the shutters of the swell open and close to the gentle strength of an invisible power, not in relation to his own strength, but obeying only his intention.' There is no evidence in the organ chamber of any pneumatic machinery. However, when the new console was installed in 1912 for the tubular pneumatic action the console was removed from the south choir aisle to the north choir aisle and that included a direct mechanical link to the swell shutters. The trigger swell pedal for the operation of the shutters remains.
The organ is expected to be back in full operation by the end of July. The Opening Recital is to be given by Thomas Trotter. organist to the City of Birmingham and organist at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster. The Bishop of Southwark will visit St. John's for the 10.00 am Eucharist on Sunday 17th October 1999 to re-dedicate the newly refurbished organ. BIOS is to hold its 'London' meeting and Annual General Meeting at St. John's on Saturday 6th November.
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